Practice Education: Stage 1 20 credits

The course is designed for 'experienced' level social workers, with at least TWO years practice experience post-qualifying, who are interested in developing their practice education skills and knowledge. This award will enable you to facilitate the learning and development of a range of learners including pre-qualifying social work students and newly qualified social workers in their Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE). 

On the Practice Education Stage 1 module, you will be educated to support, teach and assess in anti-oppressive ways, and demonstrate knowledge and skills in providing quality learning opportunities to support best practice in social work.

This robust module unfolds over six carefully designed theory and research informed sessions, in which you will learn how to:

• Set up and maintain an effective, individualised learning environment.
• Design, deliver and evaluate learning programmes tailored to the needs of your learners.
• Mentor, coach and supervise learners to develop reflective capabilities, knowledge and skills.
• Assess learners fairly and holistically, at different stages in their social work careers.

The Department of Social Work and Social Care is a multidisciplinary team dedicated to promoting anti-oppressive, relationship-based practice and improving wellbeing across communities. Through impactful research, international collaboration, and strong local partnerships, it provides inclusive and evidence-informed education for professionals at all levels.

This module will enhance your ability to deliver high-quality learning experiences to students and newly qualified professionals, reinforcing the department’s commitment to advancing social work practice for the benefit of society.

The Practice Education Stage 1 module comprises of six teaching sessions. Each session will be delivered over one full day (10am to 4:30pm) scheduled every other week, so that the module teaching is completed over a 10 week period. PE Stage 1 trainees are expected to attend ALL six sessions.

Module dates

This academic year we will be running one Practice Education Stage 1 module which will be offered at postgraduate level:

• Tuesday 13th January 2026 to Tuesday 24th March 2026

Our module will be delivered fully in-person, ensuring regular face-to-face contact to create a strong and effective learning community. During the module there will be plenty of opportunities to collaborate with your peers to share experiences, learn and develop. We hope that these foundations will foster your on-going professional development as a Practice Educator.

Assessment

The Practice Education Stage 1 module is academically assessed at 20 credits which means that 200 hours of study is expected. This is achieved through a mix of online independent study, seminars, tutorials, additional reading and research and the oversight of a social work learner on placement.

To complete the module candidates must:

• Attend all sessions to evidence their engagement.
• Provide a placement with a social work student or ASYE candidate undertaking a placement opportunity for purposes of professional development. To be fully qualified as a Stage 2 Practice Educator, candidates MUST have worked with at least ONE pre-qualifying learner in either Stage 1 or Stage 2 of their Practice Education award.
• Submit a portfolio of “evidence”, which includes a direct observation of the trainee in practice, student or ASYE candidate feedback and a reflective piece on their teaching, supervision and assessment of the learner.
• Submit a 4000 word academic assignment in which they use relevant literature to critically analyse the way they set up the learning environment (Domain A of the PEPS), designed and implemented a learning programme (Domain B), assessed the student (Domain C) and addressed their own professional standards as a Practice Educator in Stage 1 training (Domain D).

In addition, you should demonstrate your interest and commitment to practice education, by having completed activities such as supporting students and other new staff joining teams and services (perhaps as part of induction activities or contributing to staff development workshops).

Furthermore, Practice Education Stage 1 applicants must demonstrate that they are ready to study at Postgraduate level by outlining any other post-graduate qualifications (e.g. a Masters, Post Graduate Certificate or Post Graduate Diploma) or relevant post-qualifying professional training, which has required the demonstration of critical thinking and writing skills.

Please note that most Practice Education Stage 1 applicants are sponsored by their organisations as this helps to ensure professional development opportunities are available, supports those candidates interested in learning and development posts (including ASYE supervisor roles), and facilitates placements for social work students. 

For this reason, applicants will normally need to liaise with the learning and development department in their organisation prior to any application. If an applicant is not being sponsored by their organisation (i.e. they are self-funding), they will need to ensure that they can secure an opportunity to teach, supervise and assess a social work student or ASYE candidate, secure a PE Stage 2 qualified Mentor to support and assess them in their PE Stage 1 practise, and have the necessary time to complete the study and the placement.